Thursday, July 14, 2011

Almost Vintage

This crocheted bedspread is quite old; in fact, it’s almost vintage. I started crocheting it when I was about twelve. But let me tell you the story from the beginning.

crocheted bedspread

My mom started teaching me to crochet when I was about seven. By the age of ten, all my dolls had crocheted outfits. By twelve, I started crocheting doilies. My mom taught me how to “read” crochet-in-rounds patterns because that is how all the patterns in Russian and Ukrainian crocheting magazines are presented.

In one of my mom’s magazines, I found a picture and pattern for a beautiful bedspread. And I knew right away that I wanted to make it. I asked my mom if we could do it together. She replied: “Do you realize how much work and time it will require? No way.”

I was disappointed by her reply, yet I didn’t want to let it go. And I started crocheting it all by myself. I had to crochet more than a hundred small square doilies, which then were to put together.

crochet

After I crocheted more than a dozen, my mom realized how determined I was. And that is when she became interested too and joined me crocheting.

Even with my mom’s help, it took us a few years to get it done. At one point, we put our project on hold because we ran out of crocheting thread and couldn’t buy it anywhere (it was the early 90s, only a few years after the Soviet Union fell apart and lots of things were hard to get in Ukraine back then).

But we did finish it eventually. After all the hard work we put into it, it’s not just a bedspread. It’s a real family heirloom!

pink roses and crochet

Perhaps you’ve seen this bedspread pattern before. A few years ago, I saw the same bedspread at my mother-in-law’s place in Norway. And just recently I found the same pattern online. You can see it here accompanied with a detailed description on how to use crochet-in-rounds patterns.

I'm joining these Friday parties:

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home,
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic On a Shoestring Decorating,
Friday Favorites @ Simply Sweet Home,
Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.

26 comments:

deebriese said...

Wow that is amazing..breathtaking! I joined a crochet a long a few years back that it was motif by motif table cloth.. I only got a few done sad to say ...I am printing this pattern off maybe Ill be inspired to try again! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

What a beauty!! You could even use it as a tablecloth for special occasions! What an example of perseverance! Well done, Olga!

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Olga,
Wow!! So so beautiful, and so so much work!! I love that you and your Mom both worked on it, a true treasure!!
Hugs,
Bella

Sunray Gardens said...

Wow that is GORGEOUS! And oh what such family history to pass on someday. Beautiful work!!!
Cher Sunray Gardens

Blueberry said...

Wonderful work! I really love it!:) hugs, Ira

Mindy said...

Holy wow! That is impressive!

Marian said...

MOOI...ik heb er ook nog een, een bedsprei, gehaakt van toen ik nog jong was..
Dus ook al bijna vintage.
Maar heb deze aan mijn dochter gegeven, daar ligt hij nu mooi te wezen op een antiek bed.

Sorry dat ik in het Nederlands typ, maar mijn schrijf engels is niet zo goed..

Rochelle @Home Sweet Homebodies said...

Oh my! That is beautiful, and I can only imagine the dedication it took to finish it. So amazing!

crochet lady said...

What a labor of love! It is beautiful and even more of a treasure because you and your mom worked on it together.

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful. Especially you and your mom made it. What a keepsake.

poppilinnstudios said...

Oh my, what a wonderful story and beautiful quilt! How special that you and your mom created it together.
-Lynn

Pamela Gordon said...

This is so beautiful! I love your story and the fact that you kept at it and finished it. It is definitely an heirloom to be cherished. Blessings, Pamela

A Few Pennies said...

Beautiful crochet! Lovely, lovely post too.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

I'm always amazed by you, Olga! I'm glad you shared this wonderful story. I cannot resist picking up pieces like this when I see them for sale in a thrift shop. I have done enough crocheting to know just how much work you are talking about. I don't know how these heirlooms ever get lost, but I hope your family has yours forever. It's so pretty.

Sandra said...

A beautiful story!And your beadspread is delicious!!
Love from Spain.

Oliva said...

Amazing! Simply beautiful! I'm at the doily stage. I did try once to make a crotchet bedspread, but I stopped at my tenth square.

Mariette's Back to Basics said...

Dearest Olga,

Yours is by far the prettiest. The beauty on your bedspread is the way you joined the squares! Masterpiece of fine crochet work. And that together with your Mom and you both have the same perfect hand of crocheting; not too loose, neither too tight.
COMPLIMENTS! So glad you managed back than to get the same thread for completing it.
Have a wonderful weekend and be very proud.

Lots of love to all four of you,

Mariette

Charlotte said...

What beautiful work! I learned to knit when I was 14 and proceeded to knit a baby blanket which I still have. I taught myself to crochet when I was 19 and have been crocheting ever since. I especially love to crochet doilies. I am going to try to find the entire pattern for this bedspread because it is beautiful and I love a challenge!

Betty said...

Olga, this very well may be just the most beautiful pattern I've ever seen, so delicate! How special that you and your mom did it together. Your patience and persistence has resulted in a family heirloom with many precious sentimental memories woven into it as well. Hugs,

Cindy said...

Your crocheted bedspread is very beautiful! Good for you for being so persistent and finishing it.
It's so lovely.
Hugs, Cindy

The Charm of Home said...

Olga,
This is beautiful! What a treasure. Thanks for linking it up!
Sherry

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

This looks really nice! Thanks for linking up with me for Friday Favorites. Please come back and link up again!

Gail said...

Your determination to complete was worth the effort- your spread is GORGEOUS.

Sharon said...

Your bedspread is absolutely gorgeous! I love it and all the other things you have displayed on your blog! You are very talented!

Carolyn said...

How lovely for you and your mom to work on it together. Beautiful bedspread.

GardenOfDaisies said...

It is absolutely beautiful! You are so talented!!

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